By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    learn to recognize and treat yeast infections
    Most Commonly Asked Questions About Yeast Infections
    November 17, 2021
    Advanced lung cancer diagnosis systems used by doctors
    Advanced Lung Cancer Diagnosis Systems Used by Doctors
    March 6, 2022
    The Top Benefits of a Wearable Blood Pressure Monitor Watch
    The Top Benefits of a Wearable Blood Pressure Monitor Watch
    June 13, 2022
    Latest News
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    July 31, 2025
    Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
    July 20, 2025
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Soaring Medical Costs Pinned on Medical Devices
    June 7, 2011
    Debt Ceiling Negotiations on Health Care are Mere Cost Shifting
    July 15, 2011
    Is Kathleen Sebelius Listening to the NCPA?
    August 29, 2011
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: How Hospitals Are Using Technology to Improve Patient Access to Care
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Hospital Administration > How Hospitals Are Using Technology to Improve Patient Access to Care
eHealthHospital AdministrationMedical InnovationsTechnologyWellness

How Hospitals Are Using Technology to Improve Patient Access to Care

Jonathan Catley
Jonathan Catley
Share
6 Min Read
uber-phone.jpg
SHARE

While ridesharing services are a good start to addressing the problem of missed medical appointments for patients without personal vehicles, this may not actually be the best solution. For patients without access to a car — and especially those with chronic health conditions that require frequent visits to the hospital — missed appointments are a common, even inevitable occurrence. Those who live far from their medical facility and rely on public transportation are especially likely to miss appointments: in fact, patients who ride the bus are twice as likely to miss appointments as those with access to a car, and according to a study cited by NCBI, of “200 children with a history of missed appointments, 51% of parents identified transportation barriers as the primary reason for missing clinic appointments.” When it comes to patients plagued by chronic conditions requiring frequent treatment, these missed appointments can be a matter of life and death. In addition to the serious impact on patient health that a lack of adequate transportation can have, healthcare providers lose revenue each time a patient fails to arrive — no-shows cost the U.S. healthcare system more than $150 billion per year. In order to decrease missed appointments and healthcare revenue losses, a number of hospitals across the country have started partnering with ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft to transport patients to and from their appointments.

Contents
Alongside Benefits, Lingering DrawbacksA Better Solution in Telehealth

Alongside Benefits, Lingering Drawbacks

At first glance, ridesharing services seem uniquely primed to improve patient access to care. A company like Uber has numerous drivers on the road at all times, which means that your ride will be at your doorstep within minutes. Not only does this eliminate the time spent waiting for a bus or train to arrive; Uber trips also tend to be considerably shorter than public transit alternatives, so patients don’t have to set aside a whole day to get to and from the doctor. For many patients, ridesharing programs may finally provide easy access to healthcare, and this is no small feat. That said, certain limitations to ridesharing services may prevent them from ever fully resolving the issue of patient access. First of all, despite their ubiquity in many urban centers, Uber and Lyft aren’t everywhere. While Uber currently covers 75% of the U.S., reaching 100% will be almost impossible, and the regions left off the map tend to be impoverished rural communities: in other words, those most in need of alternative access to healthcare. In addition, the legality of ride-sharing services continues to be disputed, and numerous cities around the world have either banned Uber or attempted to. For patients in need of consistent transportation for regular, critical hospital visits, this instability is unacceptable. Finally, there’s the all-important question of cost. For some patients, ridesharing programs are covered by their health insurance plans, but the majority do not qualify for such assistance when it comes to regularly scheduled appointments. For example, Medicare does not typically cover non-emergency (i.e. ambulatory) medical transportation. Given the choice between paying for an Uber ride and taking the much more affordable bus, many resource-strapped patients will choose the latter.

A Better Solution in Telehealth

Fortunately, there is another solution for patients who have difficulty accessing healthcare: telemedicine. A number major healthcare systems, such as Mayo Clinic and Boston Medical, have been working overtime to deliver standardized, scalable telehealth services that allow patients to receive medical counsel from their physicians without ever leaving their homes. What makes telehealth so revolutionary is that it can be used to reach patients living far off the Uber grid: resourceful medical teams throughout the country have developed telehealth solutions for rural areas and other underserved communities. In addition, telehealth can benefit patients with physical needs that exceed Uber’s capabilities: those in wheelchairs, for example. Many hospitals are also now employing remote monitoring technologies, such as apps, wearables, and other wireless medical devices, and seeing a major impact on both patient health and the cost of care. According to Vidant Health’s Chief Medical Officer Mark Rumans, since implementing such technologies in the hospitals and other healthcare facilities they run across North Carolina, they’ve seen a “significant reduction” in patient admissions — about 74% over the course of a single year. These benefits make telehealth and remote monitoring devices viable alternatives for delivering care to patients without easy access to a vehicle. If nothing else, telehealth can help fill the inevitable gaps left by ride-sharing programs, ensuring that every patient receives adequate care — regardless of location or financial wherewithal.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
Health
July 31, 2025
holistic dental
Holistic Dentist Services Are Natural and Safe
Dental health Specialties
July 28, 2025
botox certification
Help Improve People’s Skin Health Via Botox Certification
Skin Specialties
July 22, 2025
Telemedicine Apps
Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
Health
July 20, 2025

You Might also Like

Home HealthWellness

Easy Steps to Increase Your Brainpower

February 13, 2019
eHealth social media
eHealthSocial Media

MyHealthTeams CEO Eric Peacock on Social Media in Healthcare [Part II]

November 6, 2013
slow healing
FinanceHospital AdministrationPolicy & Law

The Slow Work of Healing

April 24, 2013
A Guide to Healthy and Happy Aging
SpecialtiesWellness

The Connection Between Positive Thinking And Healing In Physiotherapy

February 3, 2019
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?